The NSAA Outstanding Service Award is presented to individuals who have made significant contributions to a Specific NSAA Activity – The recipients of this year’s award are the first three of six Music Coordinators who are selected by each NSAA District Managing committee to represent their district on the State Music Coordinators Advisory Committee.

District Music Coordinators’ perform a key role in the planning, oversight and management of our NSAA District Music Contests.  Their responsibilities include:  recruiting host contest sites/directors, assigning schools within each district to those sites and contest budgetary considerations.  They are full time educators and music directors for their own music programs who in addition dedicate their time, talent and efforts throughout the school year to making district music contests a valuable experience for our association.   

Jim Kucera of Waverly Public Schools

Jim Kucera is currently in his thirteenth year as Middle School Instrumental Music Director, and Assistant High School Marching Band/Varsity Band/Jazz Band Director at Waverly Public Schools.  He was previously the Director of Bands at Nemaha Valley Schools for eleven years.  Jim is a graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where he received both his Bachelor’s of Music Education degree and Master’s degree in Education.

Jim’s professional affiliations and activities include the National Association for Music Education, Nebraska Music Educators, Nebraska State Bandmasters Association, Jazz Education Network, Waverly Education Association, Nebraska State Educator’s Association, National Educator’s Association and National Association of Secondary Schools Principals.  Jim has served as NSAA Music Coordinator for the District One Managing Committee and *fifty two high schools in that district since 1995.

Jim received the Jack Snider Outstanding Young Band Director Award in 1992 and the Horace Mann Crystal Apple Educator Award in 2007.  He is active in the community with American Legion Baseball and is a founder of “Friends of Baseball.”  An organization devoted to raising funds, writing grants and gaining sponsors to make baseball better for the youth of Waverly.

Doran Johnson of Omaha Westside High School

Doran Johnson is currently in his sixteenth year as the Choral Director and Department Chair at Westside High School in Omaha.  Previously he was the Choral Director at Gundy Center Middle/High School in Gundy Center, Iowa.  He received his Bachelors in Music Education from University of Northern Iowa and his Masters of Music at the University of Nebraska-Omaha.

Doran’s professional Affiliations and associations include Nebraska Music Educators Association, NAfME, American Choral Directors Association and Nebraska Choral Directors Association, and Nebraska Music Educators Association’s Chair of Choral Affairs.  Doran has served as NSAA Music Coordinator for District Two Managing Committee and the *eighty high schools in that district since 2006.

Doran received the 2012 Nebraska Music Educator of the Year Award and the Schrager Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2008.

Teresa Rotert of Hershey Public Schools

Teresa Rotert is in her twenty-fourth year as the K-12 Vocal Music Director at Hershey Public Schools and is also the Girls Golf Coach and Quiz Bowl Coach.  Prior to her present position at Hershey she taught music at Paxton and Sutherland in Nebraska.  Teresa earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from Kearney State College.

Teresa ‘s professional Affiliations and Associations include the  National Association for Music Educators, Nebraska Music Educators Association, Nebraska Choral Directors Association, American Choral Directors Association.  She has served as a site host for “Sing Around Nebraska” since 1998. She has served as NSAA Music Coordinator for the District Four Managing Committee and *fifty six high schools in that district since 2006.

Teresa was selected as the VFW District IV Teacher of the Year in 2007, American Legion Elementary Teacher of the Year in 2008 and received the NMEA 31 Year Certificate as a music educator in Nebraska this past fall.

These honorees have made significant impact in their resepctive schools and communities. The NSAA is extremely appreciative to these educators and the role they have in high school activities.

*School numbers refer to 2011-2013 NSAA District Music Contest Participating member schools.